USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Oxford > History of the town of Oxford, Connecticut > Part 13
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From Julia M. Candee Bronson to her sister, Mary Candee Tomlin- son from Hartford, Conn. Apr. 29, 1861.
(Note) Abraham Lincoln had been sworn in to the office of President of the United States on March 4, 1861, and on April 12th, Fort Sumter, was fired on. So this letter was written only seventeen days there - after. She writes:
"You probably have felt anxiety on account of our country's troubles, but probably less than many who reside in more densely populated places. The excitement here is intense; a regiment of volunteers have been raised here and still other companies are forming. Stars and Stripes are everywhere seen and red, white, and blue rosettes are on almost every passerby. The first Sabbath after the news of the attack upon Fort Sumpter came, extras were issued from the printing offices and ministers and people on their way to church bought and read them. The newsboys sold them on the church steps unrebuked. The second Sabbath, large establish- ments were employed in making clothing for the soldiers. Many people throughout the city were sewing through the day, and an immense crowd at the depot waiting the arrival of the Massachu- sets (missing), and farewells taken amid shouts of the multitude, smiles and tears of parting friends. But God reigns still, let the earth rejoice, and while we tremble we will still hope.
from sister Julia. May 13, 1861
Andrew Candee writes from Woodbury to his sister, Mary Candee Tomlinson
"There is a company of volunteers here awaiting orders to go to New Haven under the command of Dr. Beckwith's son, a graduate of West Point".
Woodbury, May 25th, 1862
Andrew Candee writes his sister, Mary Candee Tonlinson,
"You wanted to know what I thought of the war now. I think it is a
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righteous war on the part of our government, if there ever was one. I do not think there is any prospect of its speedy termina- tion although there has been some victories recorded since you asked that question."
From your loving brother, Andrew
Frederick Candee writes to his sister, Mary Candee Tomlinson
Camp Paripett, Aug. 18-28, 1862
"I have lost the sun of the Rebels, but I shall be on thar's track this afternoon. Thar's is a few hovering around here and I am anxious to get a shot at some of them. I took three the other night and they said that if all of the yankees was like me, they did not want to molest them. They ask me if I ever saw anything I was afraid of. I told them no, not in the shape of a rebel. They was a hard set of fellows, I tel you. What it is you feed a yankee. Oh hard bread and salt horse for six months and he is not afraid of much.
Our camp is seven miles above New Orleans, it is a low marshy place but not as unhealthy as we expected. Our Reg. is very healthy, we have lost only 28 men since we left home, but I have seen the time when I should like to have got a piece of your pie. I intend to eat some of that pie before many months that is if the Rebels don't run out of our reach. They have threaten to drive us out of here but have not yet and don't think they will." Company F in care of Capt. Clark
As Frederick Candee wrote in August, 1862, it was some fifteen months after his sister Julia had written of the excitement in Hartford over the firing on Fort Sumter. It was but three months after Gen. Grant had seized forts Henry and Donelson on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, leading to the capture or control of the Missis- sippi River from the Ohio River to New Orleans, giving the Union troops the advantage of the commerce on that river, but also cutting off Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas from the rest of the Confederate States. On the night of April 23, 1862, just a month before Andrew's letter, Farragut captured New Orleans, and General Benjamin Butler entered that city.
Capt. Clark's Company F of the Regiment was probably a portion of Gen Butler's forces. Things began to look promising and this may account for Andrew's optimism and apparent enjoyment of the war. (Of course it may have been "window dressing" to allay the fears of his sister ). Soon, however, things took a turn for the worse, for the Union Cause. The severe defeat of the Union forces under General John Pope occurred in August 1862 at the second battle of Bull Run. But Andrew's letter of Aug. 18th to 28th still is hopeful.
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From Andrew Candee to his sister, Mary Candee Tomlinson.
Bayou Boeuf, Feb. 17th, 1863 "I am well at present and enjoying myself first rate. We are well situated now on the line of the New Orleans, Opelousas and Great Western R.R. We were first ordered to Berwicks Bay, the ter- minus of the R.R. and stayed there 4 weeks and were then ordered to guard the R.R. from New Orleans to Berwicks Bay so our regi- ment is scattered a distance of about 85 miles. Our regiment is very healthy, we having lost but 1 man since we left Conn. the 16th of Nov., a space of 3 months. I have got to be a rank Abolitionist since I have been down here. We are in about as bad a slave sec- tion as there is in our country. The settlers are mostly French without a grain of principle ---- I had the pleasure of seeing Fred; he is looking tough and healthy. I was with him nearly all day, we are stationed only about 20 miles apart"
From your loving brother A. B. Candee
From Andrew Candee to his sister, Mary Candee Tomlinson
Bayou Beouf, Feb. 23, 1863 "Fred has left his camp here for Brashear City, only 7 miles from where we are stationed. They went by here yesterday. I am on picket guard today but have plenty of time to write. We have just been paid off and I am going to send home a little money. Our company is very healthy, having but one man in the hospital and he stays there to get rid of duty. He is one of the men that is all the while cursing the abolitionists and niggers. I wish he was at home where he belongs instead of here. We have a great many such men in the 9 months men and they are nothing but a nuisance. That is one of the evils of offering such bounties. When I get home if there is any more such bounties offered, I will raise my voice against it for one."
(The government in July 1861, had given a bounty of $100. plus regular pay of $13 a month and in 1863 had more than trebled the bounty) From Edward Candee a younger brother to his sister, Mary Candee Tomlinson,
Plattsville, March 8th, 1863
(Note: Plattsville is in Connecticut, on Route 59, between Bridge- port and Easton) "I meant to have come down to see you, but had a good job offered me and thought best to except it. It is at work japaning buttons. I have been here two months now and like it first rate so far, get $10 per month and board with the chance of staying a year at $12 per month and board.
I have received a letter from Andrew since I have been here. He was then in New Orleans and had the mumps. He wrote an
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account of the voyage, quite a long one too. It seems that they had some pretty high winds and it took them some time to make the voyage but finally arrived safe. Part of the company was left be- hind in New York and was shipwrecked on an uninhabited island, but they managed to save enough from the wreck to keep them from starvation.
Andrew writes in his last letter that he has spent one day with Fred. The Reg. Fred is in had been with two or three others down the river on an expedition, and on their return encamped near the 23d and they had a pleasant time. Fred seems to think that the nine months men will not have much fighting to do, as he says by the time they get thoroughly drilled, their time will be out. He says the old troop will have to do all the fighting and I am pretty much of his opinion, but just now it don't seem as if there was any more fighting to be done anywhere and if it is to be done, they are not doing it. The secessionists of the north are helping the rebels all they can. It seems as though we had reached the crisis and some- thing must be done."
This was written some two months after Lincoln had issued the Emancipation proclamation on Jan 1st, 1863.
The following is from a letter, the first part of which is missing. It is from Frederick Candee, apparently to his sister, Mary Candee Tomlinson, written presumably from Louisiana in 1862-63.
"(We) went through hedges and ditches and over fences until we arrived at the Rifle pits, and that is where the fun commenced in good earnest, but we whiped them in about one hour and half fighting. We took one hundred and ninety prisoners and killed and wounded as many more. We lost four killed and fourteen wounded. The Rebels give our Regiment the name of the Blue- hatted Dare Devils. We was the only Regiment that wore them. They said that when powder and Balls could not stop a Regiment that they could not fight them. We have moved down the Bayou about twelve miles and intend to stay till the sugar crop is in, which will be five or six weeks, and then we go back to New Or- leans. As for myself my health is good, never better. I like soldiering when we are on the move, but Camp life is the dulest of all lifes .- The drum is beating for me (to) fall in. I am going out with six men to see what I can see and get some chickens.
From Frederick Candee to his sister Mary Candee Tomlinson
Camp Renor, La. March 12th, 1863 "Andrew came up to see me last week, but I had gone on three days Picket and did not see him, but he was well.
There is no news of importance down here in Dixie. All is quiet, so the papers say, but I am sorry to say it has, for if we have got
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to Fight, I want to fight every other day till we get through. Re- port says that Stonewall Jackson is down here and if he is, we shall have a little something to do, and then time will pass pleasantly. Oh for something to drive the dulness of Camp life away. I had rather take my chances in battle than to ly in camp. I must say that our Army has got too many Cowards or men that enlisted for money and are afraid to get into the field of battle. We have got twenty or thirty thousand of those nine months Troops and they are not so good as so many Cornstalks.
They don't know anything and have not time to learn. You may think I am hard on these nine months troops, but we have a chance to know what they are. We have got two Green Regiments in the brigade with us and we have to do all the Picket duty. They went out on Picket duty one or twice and they saw a Rebel behind every Stump and Tree and kept the whole Camp in an uproar. We are stationed so that we can see the Rebels Camp fire every night and some nights we shout at one another, that is, the Pickets, but we have not had any one hurt yet. It is a very common thing when we Sargents are going from one post to another to have a Ball whiz past our head, but we will pay them in a few days. I am a going out in a day or two to see if I can find out their numbers and may see some of them."
From Andrew Candee to his sister, Mary Candee Tomlinson
Bayou DesAllemands March 30th (From other letters it is evident that this was in 1863)
"I was just getting on the cars to see Fred, when I received your welcome letter. I stayed with him over night and had a very pleasant visit. He is well, and was glad to hear from you. He is at Bayou Boeuff, Gen. Weitzel having withdrawn his troops from Brashear. We are on the R. R. at present. There is another Co. at this station with us. We had a report that 4 Co's. of our Regt. had been surprised at Lafourche (the headquarters of our Regt.) and taken prisoners with all the staff officers, but it proved to be a false alarm given by a man that heard the pickets fire and was so scared that he did not stay to see what was the matter but cut for the next station with the news that they were taken prisoners. His own Co. had out a squad searching for his body as they thought he was drowned.
We lost one of our gun-boats 2 or 3 days ago with Co. A of the 12th C.V. and 1 Co. of the 160th New York. The Captain of the boat went beyond his orders and got himself into a trap. You said you hoped I would not enlist again if I got home safe. I hope you are not discouraged after less than 2 years of war. Our fore-fathers fought 8 years. We should prove ourselves unfit for the trust which was left with us if we surrender the principles of
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government which were left with us to maintain. I would much rather be at home, but my place is here for the present. There is a great deal in the conduct of the war that is wrong but that does not alter the merits of the question before the people of this country. I hope you will not hesitate to rebuke treason if you hear it uttered anywhere. When I get home I am ready to fight it there if necessary. Our State by the conduct of her politicians is getting us to be a byword among loyal men everywhere. We see more in the conduct of affairs at home to discourage soldiers in the field than the rebels have ever done or can do."
From Frederick Candee to his sister Mary Candee Tomlinson
Oppelousas, La. April 30th, 1863 "We have had rather lively times down here in Dixie for the last three weeks. We left Brashire City the 11th, April. My Regt. and the 75, N. Y. was in the advance. We came up with the enemy Sun- day the 13th about four o'clock in the afternoon and fought until dark when we fell back out of the reach of their Guns. The morn- ing of the 19th we opened fire about seven o'clock and heavy Can- nonading until noon when we, that is, the 12th C.V. and 75 N. Y. was ordered to charge the enemy's right. Which you can bet we did. We had been under fire all the forenoon and was glad of a little excitement. On we went untill we came up to one of their Rifle Pits when they opened a murderous fire, of musketry. It was terrible, but on we went and after three hours of close fight- ing we drove them back of their heavy breastwork. When, at dark, they retreated. We got two thousand prisoners and destroyed four of their gunboats.
Some of the New Regts in our rear broke and run in the fight. The man on my right, fell shot through the shoulders and the one on my left was shot through the head.
Blood flew on me in four or five places, and several balls went through my Cloths, but I escaped unhurt. The rebels had ten thousand and we had fifteen but they had strong earth works. They was only five or six of our Regts under fire but drove them. They have marched one hundred and twenty miles and are near Oppelousas on Picket for a rest, that is if a soldier has any. We have had no hard fighting since the battle but no end of skirmish- ing. Some of those New Regts are not so good as a bug.
I see by the paper that Thomas Seymour was not elected and I am thankful for that. They is one thing that I should like to do, that is I should like to have a good Battle with those Northern Secesh and kill off about two thirds and then we can whip them there. It makes my blood boil when I think of these Traiters in my own State."
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The "Secesh" were, of course, those Northerners who sympathized with the Southern States in their secession from the United States. Thomas Seymour, who had been Governor of Connecticut 1850-1853 was one of them.
From Andrew Candee to his sister, Mary Candee Tomlinson
La Fourche Crossing, May 6th. ( From other letters it is evident that this was in 1863)
"Our Co. is at Labradorville, a small village about 15 miles above here. There is 20 of us left here for Scouts and other duties and we do not have much to do but have easy times. This district is one of the finest sugar districts in the state. We are quartered on the plantation of an old rebel that has been confiscated. It is the best land I have ever seen. Our quarters are in the shade of a fine grove with the Col's just back of us in the plantation mansion.
This Bayou is a direct outlet of the Mississippi. The surface of the water is 6 or 8 feet above the surrounding country so we have to go up hill to get the stream.
There is a great many flowers here. The magnolia, a large white flower, is the most fragrant flower I have ever seen"
(This is the last letter of Andrew's, preserved by his sister. Frederick tells of Andrew's death in his letter of Nov. 17, 1863) The last part of a letter from Frederic Candee to his sister Mary Candee Tomlinson.
(undated but before the letter of June 25, 1863)
"I was with Andrew all day, but we left at night and have not seen or heard from him. We are back in the old camp and in good fight- ing trim. We did not lose a man in the fight and only one slightly wounded. Report says that we are going to start out again this week and going to Port Hudson and from there to Vicksburg, and if you (we ?} do you will hear from us, again pretty soon and we are in hopes we shall see a little fun in the shape of iron and lead. --- I am in good health and weigh 160 lbs and think I can do some pretty tall fighting --- am coming home before long and eat some of them pies.
From your brother, F. Candee
From Frederick Candee to his sister, Mary Candee Tomlinson.
Port Hudson, La. June 25th, 1863
(Port Hudson is on the Mississippi River, not far above Baton Rouge )
"Having a little spare time, thought would improve by giving a brief detail of the doings of the 19th Army Corp. We have been here at Port Hudson twenty-seven days and in the advance and
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under fire all of the time. We are on the right and in about twenty rods of the Rebels' Breast Works.
The night of the 10th five Companys out of our Right was or - dered to make an assault on their Rifle Pits. We started but was repulsed with the loss of fifty killed and wounded. My captain was one of the wounded. We had four Officers wounded that night. On the 19th our brigade was ordered to the left of the line to charge. We started about twelve o'clock at night and got into position about sunrise. When we was ordered to Charge, which we did and was repulsed with heavy loss. Report says we lost two thousand killed and wounded. I tell you it was a hard sight to see the boys fall and hear them call for help. But of such is a soldiers life. One of our own Shells burst within six feet of me and killed one man and the man that stood next to me had his arm blowed of close to his shoulder and completely covered me up with dirt.
But we are a going to try it again in two or three days and all fell confident that we shall meet with success.
We, that is, our Brigade started from Brashire City last April four thousand three Hundred strong. This morning, when the re- port was handed in it reported nine hundred and eight seven or dis- count of over three Thousand in three months. Rather hard show for us three years men. Gen Banks has issued an order for one thousand Volunteers to form a storming party and the boys have answered by signing their names. He has got two Thousand now and they are drilling for the charge and we all feel that Port Hud- son is a doomed place. At least I hope to be able in a few days to inform you that P.H. is ours (Note - It fell on July 9th)
I was talking with the Chaplain last evening and he said that we had lost seven thousand since we got to Port Hudson, that is, the loss of the whole Army since we have been fighting here at Port Hudson."
(Note - Vicksburg had surrendered on July 4th, so with the fall of Port Hudson, the Mississippi was in control of the Union forces throughout its entire length.)
Then came the news that Andrew was in a hospital in Mattatown, Illinois. This was told in a letter to Mr. Candee from one Maria Noyes, either a nurse or a visitor at the hospital, and a very sympa- thetic and understanding letter it is, and from it we quote the following: A letter from Maria Noyes written apparently to Mr. Frederick Burritt Candee about his son Andrew Candee.
Mattatown, Coles Co. Ills. Aug 22, 1863
Dear Sir,
Since your son was brought to this hospital he has seemed
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quite anxious to write to you, but was not willing for me to write because he said you and his Mother would be so disappointed not to see his own writing, however, I have prevailed upon him to let me write today. He is better than when he came ----- I assure you we will try to do all that interest in him, and love for our brave soldiers can suggest --- I will write again soon if he is not much better ---- Please write to him, for nothing cheers sick soldiers as letters from home.
Respectfully, Maria Noyes
Andrew died at Mattatown Ill, Sep 30, 1863 on his way home from service in the late war
From Frederick Candee to his sister Mary Candee Tomlinson:
New Franklin, La. Oct 7th, 1863
"It has rained for four days and bids fair to last four more. We are encamped in an old cane field and mud is knee deep. For a shelter, we have got a piece of cotton cloth, and for our floors we got a few Bitters Weeds, and as for cloths we have got none except what we have got on and they has not been a dry thread in them for the last four days.
We are in the advance and I had rather fight four successive days than to pass through another storm like this. I would like to give five Dollars for the use of a good Hogpen for tonight to sleep in. We are expecting to go into Texas."
From Frederick Candee to his sister Mary Candee Tomlinson:
Camp New Vermilion, Nov 17th 1863
"I had heard of Andrew's death sometime before I received your letter. (dated Oct 28th). I will not attempt to describe my feelings, for I know, Dear Sister that you can imagine better than I can write.
Since I wrote last we have marched a good many days and have had some pretty hard skirmishes. Now we are encamped on the Reble General's Plantation by the name of Moteau. He is just above us with fifteen or twenty thousand Rebel Troops. We expect to have a hard battle before long. We have got about ten Thousand Infantry, six batteries and quite a large force of Cavalry. We have got rifle Pits dug the whole length of the line and feel confident that we can whip them when they come.
The other day my Regt went out after men. We had two sections of a battery. The Rebels came down on us. We masked our Ar- tillery and fell back. The rebels came right on to them before they were aware of it. When the battery open fire, the Rebs fell like grass (it was awful.) The skirmish lasted a little over half
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an hour, and the Rebels left two hundred killed on the field. They got all of their wounded off. We had to bury their dead. We had two killed and six wounded, that is, on our side. We have not seen any of them since until this morning. They came down with a flag of truce and ordered us to surrender. They said they would give us just five hours to decide. But ten hours have past and the Rebels have not come. Perhaps they had too severe a lesson the last time.
You wished to know when my time was out. We have got just one year more to serve. But that will soon pass away and then if nothing happens I shall be Home. We cannot tell what changes will take place in one short year, but hope for the best."
In 1863, things were not going so well in the Union Army. Union soldiers were deserting by the thousands, and it became evident that sufficient soldiers could not be obtained and maintained by voluntary enlistment. On March 3, 1863, Congress voted the first draft act, calling all men between 20 and 45. On the eighth of May, the Presi- dent issued a proclamation setting the draft in force. The process of obtaining soldiers was highly unpopular and riots occurred in New York and Boston against its enforcement. But in the rest of the coun- try, it was felt to be a distasteful necessity. The act, however, con- tained a provision that a man could be exempted by payment of $300. The money, so accumulated, was used to hire substitutes.
In Oxford, these funds were in the control of First Selectman Benjamin Nichols. He was born in Oxford, son of Russel and Nabby Riggs Nichols. He grew to manhood on the old family farm there, re- ceiving a common school education which he supplemented in later years by a generous course of reading. He married Minerva Tomlin- son, daughter Truman Tomlinson, a blacksmith of Oxford. So it is seen that Oxford played its part in the defense of the Union about as other towns did, but no record of events has been found later than 1863.
The War of the Rebellion, Soldiers furnished by the Town of Oxford. (Listed in "History of the Old Town of Derby")
Ashley, Benjamin
3d. Independent Light Battery, Conn. Volunteers.
Arnold, Christopher
2d. Regiment, Heavy Artillery,
Andrews, Elias C.
15th Regiment Infantry
Alling, Edwin J.
20th Regiment Infantry
Baldwin, Mills G.
3d. Independent Light Battery 1st Regiment Heavy Artillery
1 1
Baldwin, Bernard S. Baldwin, Edward W. Butler, Charles H. Bryant, Sylvester
20th Regiment Infantry
2d. Regiment Heavy Artillery 7th Regiment Infantry
11
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Conn. Volunteers.
Brown, James Baldwin, Herbert C. Benham, Joseph H.
10th Regiment Infantry 13th Regiment Infantry 20th Regiment Infantry
13th Regiment Infantry
11 11
20th Regiment Infantry 20th Regiment Infantry
Carr, Michael
Conley, Thomas
1st Regiment, Cavalry 1st Regiment, Heavy Artillery
11
Carney, Richard M. Cotter, Frederick
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